Compound turbine.



PATENTED AUG. 23, 190`4.

H. WGLKE.

GOMPOUND TURBINE.

APPLICATION HLED DEO. 17. 1903.

H0 MODEL.

e gew bwentoz 1 @Ak hwabeo UNITED STATES k'atented August 23, 1904T PATENT OFFICE.-

COMPOUND TURBINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 768,210, dated.v August 23, 1904;. Application and December 17,1903. scanne. 185.536. fireman.)

To {Ll-l whom/it mn/y concern.:

Beit known that l.. HERMAN VVoLiin, a citizen o f the United States', residing at Newark, in the countyof Essex and State of New .lersey, have invented new an luseful Improvements in Compound Turbines, of which the following is aspecification. A

My inventionrelates' to improvements in compound turbines; and it consists in the no vel construction and arrangement et' its guide and wheel buckets, the object of which is' to give to-a freely-escaping vapor or steam jet after leaving the nozzle under pressure and with high velocity an extended and eomparativcl y circularand helical path in which the kinetic energy of the circulating fiuid manifesting itself as centrifugal force is compelled to exert this force-as so much presse re-in the moving direction of the buckets of' the rotating wheel, transforming in this manner the inberent and available energy oi' the vapor-current into further utiliviable mechanical power` to the wheel-shaft of the turbine. 'lhe application of this system providesa motor which is capable of fully utilizing the available energy of the steam in a very economical way at either high or low speeds. permittingr a convenient variation of the turbine-wl'icel velocities at fixed rates of' boiler-pressure, thus al` ways giving under many varying conditions,

desirable couivalent'results. These and other improvements pertaining to the construction and operation of this motor are attained by such devices as illustrated in theaccmnpunying drawings, in which- Figure i is a vertical cross-section of' the tlnbine-motor. Fig. 2 is a side elevation with a portion of the cover of' the casing"`broken away to disclose the interior of the turbine and the relative position of the wheel and counter buckets. Fig. 3 isa peripheral elevation of the power-wheel. f Fig. 4 is a detail perspective of wheel-buckets. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective of wheel and counter buckets, showing the helical course ofthe power-current, F'g. 6 is a gaging devicensed in bringing the wheel to its proper position.l

A turbine-wheel has its power-transmitting shaft jou rnalcd in centrally-lormtcd bearings of an air-tight casini'. Said bearings,

shown in Fig. 3.

which project from the casing, have threaded ends 1i, that hold nuts y' for adjusting the shaft and wheel to correct position within thecasing. 'lhe turl'iine-casing is formed of two parts, the body n. and its cover c', saidcasing being also provided with a suitable steam-outlet, the hollow footc of tbe'casing, which is bolted to a suitable base, serving in this motor for that purpose. The p'rineipalparts ofthe turbinewheel, as shown in Figs. l, 2, and 3, are coniliosed of a ringof wheel-buckets. Thisbucketring is suitably fastened betweentwo wheeldisksffof thesame diameter as the bucketring. "1.hewheel-disks are provided with cen- -tral hub-pieces y (/that are clampedand fastened to a threaded wheel-shaft e by means of nuts la, l1.. Said disks are made of any suitable sheet metal and are dished out and otherwise provided with concentric ribs in av manner which is intended-to combine lightness with strength. Fla-t rings 7c, fastened, by means of rivets l, tothe outer face at the circumference of' these disks, serve to further increase the strength and rigidness of the turbine-wheel. The turbine-buckets m, which occupy the peripheral space between the wheel-disks, are shown inform and position in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5. The form of the inner space of each bucket is determined oneach of the two opposing parallel or nearly-parallel sides by a fiat surface approximately semicircular in outline,

the semicircular edges of which fiat surfaces join at right angles with the face of an appropriately Semicircular curved wall in such a manner as to form a fiat pocket, of which the cross-section of the bottom segment shows the three joined faces in a U-shaped and. rectangular position to each other, asshown inFigs. 2, 4, and lhese lat and semicircular-formed buckets project with their bottom ends, which overlap eachother,'as shown iniFig. 2, from the whecls periphery toward the interior of the wheel in a tangential direction. Besides this these buckets take also an oblique position between the turbine-disks,- which make their open ends rhomboidal in outlines, as These buckets after having been formed to the propershape are riveted directly to each-- other and to' the wheel-disks, the holes l' serving for therivets. To make a the turl ine\vheel are two stationary rings 7',

holding between them a series of closely-adjoining, outwardly-overlapping, and inwardlyopen counter-buckets q. These buckets resemble in construction the wheel-buckets, but in regard to'tangential direction and axial inclination take a directly opposite positionto them, Figs. 2 and 5. This counter-bucket ring is secured tothe casing by studs s, Fig. 1. The inner periphery of the casing is provided with several projections t, against which the rings 1' bear when Fitted in place. This arrangement limits the Contact and corresponding heat conduction with the casing to a few points and permits the free circulation of any fluid between the rings andcasing on its way to the outlet. Instead of a full ring only a part or several parts of such a ring may be employed, according to service required.

`The buckets of the turbine-Wheel and vthe oppositely-coinciding counter-buckets, each representinga series of sloping semieircular pockets, form in combination with each other a confined helical channel composed of obliquely -placed overlapping spiral rings or 'loops-whose axis surrounds the tu rbine-wheel and is een trail located between the wheel and counter buckets, Figs. 2 and 5'. The outside edges ot' the obliquel y-crossin g walls that form the flat sides of the buckets are not straight, but retreat in a curved or broken line in the middle of the periphery ,a little distance toward the interior of said buckets. This particular form is provided centrally with an open space between the wheel and counter buckets, forming thus an unobstructed channel surrounding the middle of the periphery of the wheel about which the joined and continuous grooves formed by the pockets of the wheel and counter buckets makes its helical turns, Figs. l, 2, and 5.

The' bueketsot' the revolving wheel receive tangentially at one' side and inthe rotating direction of the wheel a freely-moving steamjet issuing from a nozzle '71., suitably placed betweenthe bucketfsupporting rings 1 and connected. with a supplypipe vv, entering through the turbine-casing, Figs. 1 andQ. I refer here to steam as the acting medium; but it should be understood that any other fluid in a liquid or vaporized` state could be used as well. steam entering the turbine-buckets with great velocit-y and traveling many times faster than the circumferential speed of the wheel is com-- The straight-lined jet ol the delivered y pelled to glide around at the inner peripheral face of the curved bucket-wall, imparting to the-wheel during this process through the irnpinging pressure of the enforced centrifugal action of the power-current an equivalent amount of mechanical energy until, with the remaining kinetic energy and in a completelyreversed direction, (which amounts to one hundred and eighty degrees,) it escapes at the opp'osite end of the wheel-bucket. The steam having after this lost only a fraction of its initial velocity is now tangentially and without shock or disturbance caught by the coinciding counter-buckets, which reversely deflect, helically advance, and taugentiall y guide it back again into the rotating wheel-buckets to impart another propu lsive impact tothe wheel. In this manner the centrifugal force of the spirally-whirling-steam will with every turn in v its helical course impart with respect to its remaining kinetic energy a corresponding driving pressure to the wheel and continues this as long as the velocity of the steam is suffin ciently high toovertake the rotating-wheelbuckets. By lowering the wheels velocity its relative mechanical efficiency will still be maintained and manifest itself in that much-increased torsonal pull or pressure at the wheelshaft, for the slower the wheel is rotating the more spiral turns and effective impulses the steam will have to make. The number of these impulses will also bear a definiterelation to the pressure atwhich the fluid is ejected from,

the nozzle. To assure an even compact flow and au effective. centrifugal action of the steam, it is important that the inner peri plieral faces of the semicircular bucket-walls at the bottom sections of all ,the buckets take a perpendicular position to the radial lines of the The actingsteam the gaging-hole is closed with a tight-litting screw e. It is also of importance that the natural driving pressure imparted tothe wheel-buckets by the ejected steam should be in a linear direction to the whcels rotation without causing any end pressurefto the latter. For this reason the curved bracket-wall of the wheel-buckets instead of making a true semicircle is curved on a greater radius` at the steam-receiving end and merges toward the delivering end into an arc oi smaller radius, as shown at m.' in Fig. l.' The curved walls ofthe counter-buckets in order to make a more effective steam-delivery are otgreater radius at their electing ends than at then' re- .-lost, no longer able to follow the original pre-- scribed helical path, but being exhausted andin A an inert condition it is driven into and flows along the peripheral channel centrally located between the wheel and counter buckets. This takes the exhausted'steam virtually out of the way ol the turbine-buckets, -with whose action it will not he able to interfere in any manner after this.

At any distance from the nozzle in the counter-bucket ring lsufiiciently long to provide the required number of helical turns for the steam to use up its kinetic energy an open space produced bythe omittance of some counter-buck'- .ets is provided. Fitted into this space between the bucket-bearing rings 'r is a curved diverting-plate u., fastened to the rings fr by rectangular bent extensions u', Figs. 1 and 2, in such a position that will divert the oncoming exhaust-steam from between the wheel and counter buckets and direct the sarii'e through the provided opening into the free space within the casing, from where it flows farther to the steam-outlet.

The closely-approachingcoinciding circumferential edgesv of the counter-bucket rings and wheel-disks are beveled olf toward the outside, as shown at 'm in Fig. 1, which brings the adjoining peripheral faces to minimum proportions and prohibits any retarding influence or iuid friction that might be oc.

casioned at these points.

The jet-nozzle should be formed to give to the discharged fluid a high initial velocity, or its shape might be such that would permit the full expansion with, the 'resulting increased velocity,of the steambefore it enters the wheelb'uckets; but the helical steam-path in this motorl'is well adapted to give the ejected steam the best opportunity to effectively expand to its fullest extent, which on account of its great velocity and the inherent inertia can only take a forward directioii, which tends to accelerate Y this velocityv yet to a certain degree after it has entered into the buckets. y

Instead of having one nozzle only this motor may be constructed with a-'number of them, in which case the necessary distance required for the helical steampath between them should be considered. W'Vith all the elements known for maximum eiiciency a motor Ywith but a few idle buckes may be constructed, although a reasonab".` number of such idle buckets will haveno detrimental ei'fect in this machine.

Instead of havingihe buckets placed at the wheel`s inl-.riphery they might also beset in flic sides of thesame. or the ring might be made to rotate while the inner buckets serve as stationary cminter-lmckets.

l do not limit myself to the details of construction herein desc-ribed, and shown in the drawings, as il desire to avail myself of such modification and equivalent as fall properly within. the spirit of my invention. i

'bviously the design may be carried to such a point that even while the bucket-wheel is entirely at rest the acting fluid is compelled to completely exhaust itself between the wheel and counter buckets, transferring inthis case all its available energy through the snbseq uent greatly-multiplied number of impulses tothe power-absorbing wheel, in this manner generating a highlyincreased pressure, which will be of great importance in starting machinery 'from a dead load.

Having thus far described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A turbine wheel-bucket whose inner form of space is determined on two-opposing sides by fiat-faced walls that join at the closed and curved end of the bucket to a wall whose longitudinal curveis of greater radius at the steam-receiving. end than at the delivery end.

2. A turbine counter-bucket whose inner `form of space is determined o n two opposing sides by flat-faced walls thatjoin at the closed and eprved end of the bucket to a wall whose longitudinal curve is of less radius at the steam-receiving end than at the delivery end.

3. In a'power-turbine, containinga rotating wheel and a series of counter-buckets, the transversely-extending bucket edges at the periphery oi' the wheel retreating in actu-ved or broken line toward the interior of the buckets, forming a concaved wheel periphery, which in combination with the counter-buckets, provide a circum jacent free space or channel between and in the middle of the wheel and counter-buckets.

4. Ina power-turbine, eentaininga rotating wheel and aseries ot' counter-buckets, the trans'- versely-cxtending bucket edges at the interior periphery ofthe series ol counter-buckets retreating in acurved orbroken line toward the interior of the buckets, forming a concaved inner periphery ofthe counter-buckets,which, in combination with the wheels periphery, provides a circumjacent free space or channel between and in the middle of the wheel and counter-buckets.

5. In a power-turbine containing a rotating wheel and a series of counter-buckets, the

wheel and counter-buckets having between them a centrally-located free channel, circumjaceut to the wheel, a diverting-plate projecting into said channel for the purpose of guid- IOO IXO

ing the exhaust-steam from between the wheel adjusting-nuts, a rotary Wheel mounted on an adjustable shaft journaled in the casing, said casing being provided with a gaging-hole for admittance of a gaging device, such to be used incombination with the adjusting-nuts i'or the correct setting of the Wheel.

7. A turbine-motor comprisinga casing having a series of guiding or counter buckets with retreating transverse bucket edges and means for admitting fluid under pressure, a power-absorbing bucket-wheel journaled in the casing whose transverse bucket edges also form a retreating line, the Wheel and counter-buckets' coinciding with each other and guiding the incoming power fluid in progressive spiral rings, the central portion of the circulating-huid rings constituting an unobstructed channel that surrounds the wheels periphery. Y

8. A turbine-motor, comprising a casing, a bucket-wheel. journaled in the casing, the wheel-buckets being held between disks and coinciding with guide-buckets held between rings, the transverse bucket edges ot' all the buckets at their open faces forminga retreating line, and the approaching coinciding circumferential edges of the counter bucket rings and wheel-disks being beveled od toward the outside, thus bringing the closely.- approaching faces of the stationary and moving parts to minimum proportions.

9. InapoWer-turbine, acasing, a wheel -carrying buckets', the inner form of space of each bucket being determined on opposing sides by iat walls that join at the closed and curved end of the bucket to a wall whose longitudinal curve is of greater radius at the steamreceiving end than at the delivery end, and a series of counter-buckets, the inner form or' which is'determined on two opposing'sides by fiat walls that join at the'closed and curved end of the bucket to a wall whose longitudinal curve is of less radius at the steam-receiving end than at the delivery end.

1n testimony whereot 1 have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two sub-` scribing witnesses. y

HERMAN VVOLKE. Witnesses: I v

MARY A. DAvrs,. Y. HAT'rrE A. DAvIf.' 

